Writing in the sand. Matt Garrick. 2021.

Sometimes a musical revolution can erupt from the most unlikely of places. Long before they were ARIA Hall of Fame inductees, Yothu Yindi were a bunch of Yolnju (Aboriginal people of East Arnhem Land) and Bala da (non-indigenous) mates rocking out in the remote Top End. Soon they were creating some of the coolest new music in the country, splicing traditional sounds with electric, and spreading a message of unity. Then, after singer Mandawuy Yunupingu penned the hit song ‘Treaty’ with Paul Kelly and Peter Garrett, and a remix dropped in 1991, Yothu Yindi shot out of Arnhem Land and into the hearts of music lovers  across Australia and the world.

Writing in the Sand is the epic story of one of Australia’s most original bands and how ‘Treaty’ gave voice to Indigenous Australia’s hard-fought struggle for recognition. Featuring photographs from the band’s archives never previously published, the book is based on extensive interviews with current and former band members as well as family members.